Comments | ankah: long time no posty

ankah

long time no posty

May 05, 2007 19:30

China is China I suppose, eh? I'm just starting to think about packing up and leaving, although I have two more months of teaching kindergarten and High School (grad students are done). Making plans for this summer to hack my way across Europe (god willing: China-> Mongolia -> Russia -> (Bulgaria? my mom wants me to buy her a $5,000 house there ( Read more... )

Comments 16

fuckgsus May 5 2007, 14:03:21 UTC

damn, how do you travel the world like that? is it just that cheap over there? or how are you doing it?
can I tag along please and thank you

ankah May 5 2007, 15:01:35 UTC

Go teach in China for a year. I live dirt cheap, and have saved up a ton. I had like no money when I left the states and am just about rolling in it right now. I also travel really cheap (like not staying in hotels or anything).

meadb May 5 2007, 14:36:33 UTC

Well, if you came to the UK you could crash with me, but it doesn't look like that's on your itinerary.

Let me know if you want company for any Mideastern travels.

ankah May 5 2007, 15:08:18 UTC

I'm planning on crashing on your couch (and eating your food!) ok not really about the food, but you are on my list of couches.

have you heard of Birthright Israel trips? thats what I'm planning on doing, and if you wanted to go with me that would be way super hot (they're free, being the selling point, given you're Jewish, and you meet a few other requirements).

meadb May 5 2007, 15:11:38 UTC

Hi! Yes, I got accepted for the June trip but they waited too long to notify me so I'd made other plans. I am hoping to go on the Israel Outdoors ISrael Quest trip in January. The problem for me is that they insist I fly to the US instead of just meeting them their. Lots of extra time and money and plane rides that way. Ick. There's a UK birthright trip, but it looks like it sucks. When are you doing your trip and which one are you doing?

ankah May 5 2007, 15:30:51 UTC

ROCK! I was planning on doing an outdoor one this winter also (I have to figure out the dates around school and such still though.) When do you have vacation in the winter?

Thread 6

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ankah May 5 2007, 15:33:21 UTC

Awesome. My grandfather lives down in Brighton, and I HAVE to go visit him, but I can't stay there, so I've got to figure out some neat stuff to do around that area to compensate for an afternoon of old people. Will certainly get in touch.

arpiana May 6 2007, 16:21:53 UTC

Anna, I miss you! People keep trying to persuade me to go to Portland with them or come visit them in Portland and I am holding out for your return!!!

But you should keep on traveling while you have the opportunity. Like, seriously.

ankah May 7 2007, 03:33:12 UTC

Awesome. Well I do hope you come visit, I should be wantering back to the states around late July. Do hope you'll come visit, its been like, what, 3 years now?!?!

arpiana May 7 2007, 14:34:33 UTC

Too fucking long, that's what it's been!!

We'll have to start planning more seriously when you get back in the States.

arpiana May 7 2007, 15:07:43 UTC

Also, I have a question for you! I have an about-to-graduate friend who is looking for something semi-longterm to do in China. She speaks a little Japanese but no Chinese. Do you think your program might be good for her?

ankah May 8 2007, 03:20:20 UTC

I'm not on a program, I just found a job and applied. There are lots of jobs here, I would suggest she try and find one at a university, as those are by far the most fun students. The only really stong advice I can give is make sure you talk to the people where she's going (make sure they're not going to fuck her over, which as far as I can tell is a fun passtime here), find out the location (in town, away from town?) and pay and things like that. she should expect to work 12-18 teaching hours per week for about 3500-5000 yuan a month (thats the rate here). feel free to send her my e-mail, as I'm sure a program will be helpful, there are a LOT of ways to get screwed over here and I know a couple of people who have been really fucked.

arpiana May 8 2007, 15:31:00 UTC

Awesome. Thanks, Anna - I will pass that along!

chisemaura May 10 2007, 18:05:50 UTC

Hi. I'm Megan, the about-to-graduate friend in question (Arpi directed me to your LJ).

I'm really glad to hear your take on this. I'm trying to gauge how easy it will be to scare up a job after my month-long teaching stint in Chengdu ends, and it's good to know that I should be wary of ripoffs. My biggest question for you is this: what sort of visa do you have? Have you had to change visa status since entering the country? Because I'm volunteering in exchange for room/board/airfare, I don't think I qualify for a work visa, but it seems like a waste to spend a bunch of money on a tourist visa only to have to pay more and jump through hoops (leave the country and reenter again, as I understand it) to be able to work legally later. Do you have a work visa? A student visa? How scrupulous are employers about that sort of thing? If I'm just tutoring English anyway, does it really matter?

Thanks!